Liquid supply apparatus

Abstract

An efficiency of a liquid supply to an ejection head such as an inkjet head is improved. An ink supply apparatus is provided that supplies ink to an inkjet head of a printer which is an example of inkjet recording apparatuses. The ink supply apparatus includes a non-replaceable ink pack disposed at a position at which the ink stored inside is suppliable by a hydraulic head differential to the printer, and a replaceable pack holder that replaceably holds a replaceable ink pack provided apart from the non-replaceable ink pack. The ink to be supplied to the non-replaceable ink pack is containable in the replaceable ink pack at a position preceding the non-replaceable ink pack. The ink that the non-replaceable ink pack receives from the replaceable ink pack is supplied to the printer under a pressure generated by the hydraulic head differential.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A liquid supply apparatus for supplying a liquid to an ejection head of an inkjet recording apparatus, the ejection head ejecting the liquid in a form of droplets using inkjet scheme, the liquid supply apparatus comprising:
 a first liquid container, disposed at a position at which the liquid in the first liquid container is suppliable to the inkjet recording apparatus by a hydraulic head differential; and 
 a replaceable container holder, replaceably holding a second liquid container provided apart from the first liquid container, 
 wherein the liquid to be supplied to the first liquid container being containable in the second liquid container at a position preceding the first liquid container, 
 the liquid that the first liquid container receives from the second liquid container being supplied to the inkjet recording apparatus under a pressure generated by the hydraulic head differential,
 wherein a third liquid container is further provided at a position more upstream than the ejection head in a liquid supply path of the liquid supplied from the liquid supply apparatus to the ejection head, wherein 
 
 the liquid from the first liquid container is suppliable to and containable in the third liquid container, and
 the liquid is supplied from the first liquid container to the third liquid container by the hydraulic head differential. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The liquid supply apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the inkjet recording apparatus further comprises:
 a pressure regulator, regulating a supply pressure of the liquid to be supplied to the ejection head; and 
 a carriage, holding the ejection head,
 wherein the pressure regulator is disposed at a position between the third liquid container and the ejection head in the liquid supply path and is mounted in the carriage with the ejection head, and 
 
 the liquid supplied from the third liquid container to the ejection head is performed by using the hydraulic head differential through the pressure regulator. 
 
     
     
       3. The liquid supply apparatus as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the ejection head comprises:
 a nozzle, through which the droplets are ejected; and 
 a liquid chamber, in which the liquid is containable at a position preceding the nozzle, 
 the ejection head receives the liquid supplied from the third liquid container through the pressure regulator that regulates a supply pressure of the liquid to be supplied to the ejection head, and 
 the pressure regulator regulates the supply pressure of the liquid to be supplied to the ejection head, so that a pressure applied for a liquid supply to the liquid chamber of the ejection head is lower than atmospheric pressure. 
 
     
     
       4. The liquid supply apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a checking device, being configured to check a liquid amount in the first liquid container. 
 
     
     
       5. The liquid supply apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 the second liquid container is inclined longitudinally relative to a gravitational direction and held by the replaceable container holder. 
 
     
     
       6. The liquid supply apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 a liquid previously degassed is containable in the second liquid container, and 
 the liquid is supplied from the second liquid container to the ejection head without exposure to air. 
 
     
     
       7. The liquid supply apparatus as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein
 the second liquid container has a capacity variable in response to an amount of the liquid currently contained inside. 
 
     
     
       8. The liquid supply apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 the first liquid container has a capacity variable in response to an amount of the liquid currently contained inside. 
 
     
     
       9. The liquid supply apparatus as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein
 the second liquid container has a capacity variable in response to an amount of the liquid currently contained inside. 
 
     
     
       10. A liquid supply apparatus for supplying a liquid to an ejection head of an inkjet recording apparatus, the ejection head ejecting the liquid in a form of droplets using inkjet scheme, the liquid supply apparatus comprising:
 a first liquid container, disposed at a position at which the liquid in the first liquid container is suppliable to the inkjet recording apparatus by a hydraulic head differential; and 
 a replaceable container holder, replaceably holding a second liquid container provided apart from the first liquid container, 
 wherein the liquid to be supplied to the first liquid container being containable in the second liquid container at a position preceding the first liquid container, 
 the liquid that the first liquid container receives from the second liquid container being supplied to the inkjet recording apparatus under a pressure generated by the hydraulic head differential,
 wherein the second liquid container is disposed at a lower position in a gravitational direction than the first liquid container, 
 the liquid supply apparatus further comprises: a liquid feeder, feeding the liquid from the second liquid container to the first liquid container, 
 the second liquid container has a liquid capacity larger than a liquid capacity of the first liquid container, 
 the first liquid container is securely disposed in the liquid supply apparatus, 
 the first liquid container and the second liquid container have a capacity variable in response to an amount of the liquid currently contained inside, and 
 the liquid is supplied from the second liquid container to the ejection head without exposure to air while the hydraulic head differential related to the inkjet recording apparatus of the first liquid container is held. 
 
 
     
     
       11. A liquid supply apparatus for supplying a liquid to an ejection head of an inkjet recording apparatus, the ejection head ejecting the liquid in a form of droplets using inkjet scheme, the liquid supply apparatus comprising:
 a first liquid container, disposed at a position at which the liquid in the first liquid container is suppliable to the inkjet recording apparatus by a hydraulic head differential; and 
 a replaceable container holder, replaceably holding a second liquid container provided apart from the first liquid container, 
 wherein the liquid to be supplied to the first liquid container being containable in the second liquid container at a position preceding the first liquid container, 
 the liquid that the first liquid container receives from the second liquid container being supplied to the inkjet recording apparatus under a pressure generated by the hydraulic head differential,
 wherein the second liquid container is disposed at an upper position in a gravitational direction than the first liquid container, 
 the first liquid container has a liquid capacity equal to or larger than a liquid capacity of the second liquid container, 
 the first liquid container is securely disposed in the liquid supply apparatus, 
 the first liquid container and the second liquid container have a capacity variable in response to an amount of the liquid currently contained inside, and 
 the liquid is supplied from the second liquid container to the ejection head without exposure to air while the hydraulic head differential related to the inkjet recording apparatus of the first liquid container is held.